In Pakistan forced conversions to Islam, rapes and forced marriages are on the rise. The victims are mostly Hindu and Christian girls, belonging to religious minorities. A report sent to Fides by the Centre for Legal Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which takes care of legal assistance for Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in Pakistan.

Highlights

LAHORE, Pakistan (Agenzia Fides) - In Pakistan forced conversions to Islam, rapes and forced marriages are on the rise. The victims are mostly Hindu and Christian girls, belonging to religious minorities, complain Fides local sources. This has been a worrying phenomenon for the Church in Pakistan for some time and that the Church is trying to address, looking for the cooperation of institutions but it is an uphill battle.

"The Christian girls are the weakest and most vulnerable, because their communities are poor, defenceless and marginalized, therefore easily exposed to harassment and threats. Often they do not even have the courage to denounce the violence," says a sister to Fides.

The sister hides and assists the girls who have managed to escape. "But the trend is worrying: There are hundreds of cases a year registered and those that come to light are only a fraction," she says. In a society that tolerates discrimination of religious minorities, especially of women, the dominant religion and related social position are used to impose tyranny.

A report sent to Fides by the Centre for Legal Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which takes care of legal assistance for Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in Pakistan, confirms this issue, reporting some terrible cases that occur mainly in province of Punjab.

Sidra Bibi, 14 year old Christian in the district of Sheikhupura in Punjab, is the daughter of a worker in the cotton industry. A Muslim from the village had his eye on her and began to molest her, and eventually abducted and raped her before threatening her with death. Physically and psychologically abused, the girl became pregnant. She managed to escape from her tormentor and is now back, in a state of exhaustion, with her family. Police have refused to accept her complaint and now the CLAAS lawyers are handling the case.

Tina Barkat, 28 year old Christian, was approached by a Muslim friend who, after being friends with her for several months, asked her to convert to Islam. Her family began to read her verses of the Koran, kidnapped and threatened her, and then gave her in marriage to a Muslim family member. The lawyers have a current action to dissolve the marriage.

The same fate has befallen Samina Ayub, Christian, aged 17, who lives with her family near Lahore. Kidnapped by a Muslim, she was forcibly converted to Islam, and renamed Fatima Bibi and was forced to marry in the Muslim rite. Her family reported the abduction but police have not prosecuted those responsible. The case remains unsolved and the family calls for the mobilisation of civil society to save Samina.

Shazia Bibi, a 19 year old Christian from Gujranwala, in Punjab, worked as a maid in the house of a Muslim woman, the owner of a grocery store. The Muslim boy from the shop was in love with Shazia. In agreement with the owner, they held a conversion and forced her into marriage. The plan was successful but now, thanks to Shazia's family the case has ended up in court.

Also, two other Christian girls, Uzma Bibi, 15 years old, from Gulberg, and Saira Bibi, 20, a nurse from Lahore, were taken by force by Muslim neighbours, converted to Islam and then forced to marry in the Islamic rite. The families of the girls, shocked, have reclaimed their daughters and the cases are currently before the High Court of Lahore, represented by lawyers provided by CLAAS.

Comments

New,
brutal images showing Islamic State militants stoning a blindfolded,
bound man and woman to death in Iraq have recently surfaced. The couple,
in the ISIS stronghold of Mosul was accused of having sex before
marriage. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In ... continue reading

In response to a growing conflict in Yemen, the Arab leaders from different countries have agreed to form a joint military force. This decision is mostly aimed toward fighting jihadists and Islamist extremism that has invaded Iraq and Syria and is making moves toward ... continue reading

The Unites States has officially breached a silent agreement with Israel that had been in place for decades. The Department of Defense declassified a top-secret document that details Israel's nuclear program. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Israel never formally ... continue reading

Saudi
Arabia-led airstrikes in Yemen are targeting military installations
held by the Shia rebels. The militant factions swept into the country's
south and drove Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee by sea. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Hadi was ... continue reading

The
momentous divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims in the Middle East has
turned into open conflict in Yemen. There are widespread fears that this
will draw other nations into a much wider war. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A Sunni coalition of Arab states ... continue reading

Backed
by other Gulf States and Egypt Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia launched
airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. The airstrikes were in
response to the Yemeni president fleeing his palace ahead of advancing
fighters. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - ... continue reading

The
King Abdullah Economic City, or KAEC -- pronounced "cake," is being
constructed by Saudi Arabia. The planned megacity in the desert will be
slightly larger than Washington D.C. and home to approximately two
million residents. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic ... continue reading

While
the United States works with Iran for a comprehensive nuclear weapons
treat, Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei called for "Death to America"
this past weekend. It was contradictory news as it came shortly after
President Barack Obama appealed to Iran to ... continue reading

The continuous efforts to get Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peaceful agreement on land has potentially reached its peak. The United States is edging closer to supporting the United Nations Security Council in forcing a final peace settlement, a lasting two-state ... continue reading

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a message posted on Facebook declared that left-wing non-governmental organizations, or NGOs and foreign governments were attempting to influence the upcoming Israeli election. He says that these entities intended to bus ... continue reading